Cyanotypes

I was introduced to cyanotypes at Maine Media, known for its excellence in teaching historic processes. In a survey course that covered all the methods for picture making since the inception of photography, I fell in love with the cyanotype and the pioneering work of Anna Atkins, 1799 – 1871. Atkins, trained as a botanist, is widely credited with publishing the first book illustrated with photographic images.

I’ve been interested in gardens and plants for as long as I can remember; and I’ve always had a thing for the color blue. Five years ago, I began making cyanotypes with materials from my garden, eventually creating digital negatives that I printed using the cyanotype process. Because my primary focus is photographing people, these images speak to my desire to record the rapture of childhood.

Beyond its distinctive beauty, I’m drawn to the relative simplicity of making cyanotypes and the option of developing images in natural light.